Bridgehampton school district

The district proposes a $12,818,345 budget for 2015-16, a 3.99 percent increase from the current $12,326,036. The local tax levy would rise 3.51 percent, from $10,630,159 to $11,003,419. This is equal to the state's tax-cap limit of 3.51 percent, so a simple majority vote will be required to pass the budget. School taxes on the average single-family home would drop 0.34 percent, from $4,182 to $4,168.

In the 2014 budget vote, district residents approved an override of the tax-levy limit. "Last year, our ability to pierce the cap was very important to maintaining this year's budget, which is under the cap," said Robert Hauser, assistant superintendent for finance and facilities. Last year's tax levy rose 8.76 percent.

Teacher contract negotiations are ongoing. The proposed budget incorporates a 0.5 percent cost-of-living increase for the first year and an average step increase of 2 percent.

The spending plan includes funding for one new teacher -- an English Language Learning position to meet a state language services requirement. No reductions of teachers or staff are proposed.